Claude Monet is indeed known for his love of water lilies! His adoration of nature and light and colors made in into pretty much every painting he has produced during his incredible life. An avid gardener, Monet maintained a large estate in Giverny, France, and the water lilies he grew there became the center of his paintings and observations of life.
I had the pleasure of visiting Giverny and walking around observing the blooming lilies and enjoying the sun and imagining Monet used to walk where I was stepping ... I also made it a point of visiting Musee de l'Orangerie in Paris, France, that devotes an oval-shaped room to Monet's water lilies. His painting covers all walls of the room so you are surrounded by shimmering colors and light and movement. Everything Monet aimed to capture.
On a recent trip to New York City, I fell in love with water lilies again. The Museum of Modern Art houses an immense piece (see the last picture) - one has to stand far away to be able to really take the artwork in. Then, it is important to step closer in and delve into the various sections of this painting. There is so much to see!
When I look at a piece of art, I watch my reaction - I go by feeling and what the painting brings up in me. And Monet's water lilies, for me, are all about flickering light, dancing colors, and the feeling of happiness. I can almost feel the sun under which Monet painted. I can sense the summer breeze. I can see him stepping back from the canvas and shifting his eye sight to the pond with lilies. I can feel his inner excitement to be able to experience the beauty and to be able to capture it and share it with the world.
Even so many years after Monet painted water lilies, they are loved and I bet they will continue to be!
I had the pleasure of visiting Giverny and walking around observing the blooming lilies and enjoying the sun and imagining Monet used to walk where I was stepping ... I also made it a point of visiting Musee de l'Orangerie in Paris, France, that devotes an oval-shaped room to Monet's water lilies. His painting covers all walls of the room so you are surrounded by shimmering colors and light and movement. Everything Monet aimed to capture.
On a recent trip to New York City, I fell in love with water lilies again. The Museum of Modern Art houses an immense piece (see the last picture) - one has to stand far away to be able to really take the artwork in. Then, it is important to step closer in and delve into the various sections of this painting. There is so much to see!
When I look at a piece of art, I watch my reaction - I go by feeling and what the painting brings up in me. And Monet's water lilies, for me, are all about flickering light, dancing colors, and the feeling of happiness. I can almost feel the sun under which Monet painted. I can sense the summer breeze. I can see him stepping back from the canvas and shifting his eye sight to the pond with lilies. I can feel his inner excitement to be able to experience the beauty and to be able to capture it and share it with the world.
Even so many years after Monet painted water lilies, they are loved and I bet they will continue to be!
Photographs of Claude Monet's paintings by Martina Sestakova. New York City, NY. November, 2014.